Message from the Dean
It's a New Day
There is nothing like an African sunrise. I may be a little biased. Seeing the sunrise heralding a new day always makes me feel hopeful. A new day allows for something different than yesterday. It’s also an opportunity to continue what was previously begun. It’s a new day, and it brings new things.
But here is the rub. A new day doesn’t actually bring anything. It just comes around every 24 hours. We are the ones who bring something to that new day.
The start of a new day — bursting forth at sunrise or easing in on a gray Seattle morning — prompts us to reflect on what we did yesterday and how we want to proceed today. That is what the new day brings: an opportunity to reflect and perhaps reset.
In 2021, SPU celebrated the School of Education’s centennial anniversary of teacher preparation. In some ways, everything is different in education than it was in 1921. Instructional styles and methods of teaching have changed dramatically.
Students and their individual needs are also quite different than they were in 1921, in part because schoolhouse doors are open to more people than ever in 2023.
A Washington state report from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction finds there are more than 130,000 multilingual English learners in our schools, and approximately 143,000 students receive special education services.
The latest data shows students of color now exceed 50% of the school-going population in Washington. Our youth today face unprecedented mental health challenges, and this crisis has certainly impacted our schools.
Teacher education programs cannot, and should not, ignore these changes, even though these realities often become politicized. As an institution of higher learning and research, our faculty must examine and debate the best ways to respond in our curriculum and teaching practices. We explore how certain issues like race and gender identity are impacted by our personal beliefs and backgrounds, as well as our faith.
We pray together when we begin our meetings because we know we don’t all agree on the decisions before us, but we also know it is our duty to prepare our teachers to support every single student who walks through the schoolhouse doors.
One thing that hasn’t changed since 1921 is that the people who choose the teaching profession continue to have a heart for kids. They know they don’t all agree with each other, or even sometimes with their professors, but they want to educate and serve the kids in front of them and keep them healthy and safe. That is a good goal for the next hundred years.
I shared this verse in a previous issue, but I think it bears repeating: “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:21-23, NLT)
Blessings to you,
Nyaradzo Mvududu
Dean
School of Education
Alumni & current students' highlights
SPU principal interns Ruby Jain, Conrado Julian, and Heriberto Gonzalez attended the second annual Washington Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (WALAS) conference with Julie Antilla, chair of the Educational Leadership program. The mission of WALAS is to “empower Latino educators, both current and aspiring, into positions of leadership through mentorship, networking, and professional development.” The conference was held Oct. 27-28 at the UW Tacoma campus.
Doctoral student Nina Vizcarrondo launched a podcast Whats4Dinner, Nina? In her podcast, she explores food as a tool for community belonging. Her podcast is available on Spotify, Apple podcasts, and on all other major podcast platforms.
Have a professional success to share? Email On Point to be included in the next issue of our newsletter.
Faculty and Staff Highlights
Welcome
Olivia Handman joined the School of Education team in August as the administrative assistant to the dean. We are very excited to welcome her. Handman grew up in the Seattle area and graduated from Evergreen State College in Olympia with a degree in policy and cultural studies. She went on to earn a master’s degree in policy studies from the University of Washington, Bothell.
Handman is dedicated to fostering positive change in education. Through her journey, she has honed skills in research, policy analysis, and administrative support to contribute to meaningful transformation.
Her proficiency in data collection, analytical tools, and effective communication allows her to champion her passion for promoting fairness in education and embracing inclusive policies, with a collaborative and empathetic approach.
A warm welcome to Sarah Kirschner ’19, the associate director of graduate programs. Prior to joining the School of Education, Kirschner worked as the budget manager in the SPU library. She also worked in student financial services at the Diver's Institute of Technology.
Kirschner graduated from SPU with a bachelor of arts in communication studies and a minor in two-dimensional art (printmaking, watercolor, and some art history). As a student, she served on Associated Students of Seattle Pacific as the vice president of finance, and worked in university ministries, the office of student life, and residential life.
Outside of SPU, she is a leader with Young Life youth ministry and the youth program at her church. She plays the bass guitar and spends her winters skiing and her summers on a paddle board.
We would also like to welcome Liz Gruchala-Gilbert, associate professor and in-coming education librarian. Gruchala-Gilbert brings with her an impressive 20+ years of experience as a librarian at SPU. She previously served as the interim education librarian. We are very excited to work more directly with her.
We are excited to welcome Kris Gritter as our new director of Doctoral Programs. With her experience, prolific scholarship, and expertise, we are confident the programs will continue to thrive under her leadership. Gritter is a productive scholar. In the past two years, she finished a chapter for a book in young adult literature; won an award for a column in the flagship journal of YAL in 2019; received a Fulbright grant based on published expertise; and co-authored a book on spirituality and young adult literature.
Gritter organized an online national book club in the spring of 2020 with more than 1,000 children and 10 famous children’s authors participating. She helped to change Washington state reading standards to include dyslexia standards, and she directed the National Endowment for the Arts’ “Big Read: King County” with the King County Library System, Highline College, and the nonprofit organization Densho. Gritter was able to make this a true community endeavor by securing the grant funding and coordinating Big Read events across the county.
We also offer heartfelt thanks for Munyi Shea. Shea has been an invaluable asset to the School of Education, serving as director of Doctoral Programs for almost 5 years. She has made remarkable contributions to the success and growth of our doctoral programs. Her dedication, expertise, and leadership have been invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for her outstanding service.
Jenn Brown, program manager for the Center for Professional Education (CPE) recently completed her doctoral work. For the past few years Brown has been studying for her doctorate in higher education administration. This quarter she successfully completed her dissertation defense. She also became a new mom with the birth of her daughter, Margie, in February.
Dave Denton’s article, “Preparing Preservice Teachers to Teach Probability and Statistics to Early Learners: A Systematic Review,” was published in a special issue of the Statistics Education Research Journal (SERJ). SERJ is one of the flagship journals for statistics education.
Kirsten Koetje’s article, “Quantity of Video Analysis Positively Correlated With Teacher Performance” was recently published in the Teacher Education Quarterly journal. This comes out of Koetje’s dissertation work. It’s especially exciting because it relates directly to on-going practices in our teacher education program.
Robin Henrikson’s article, "Preparing School Boards for Sustainable Leadership: How Does Your State's Policy Equip School Board Members?” was published in Leadership and Policy in Schools. This is particularly timely in an era of increasing political and social divisiveness, when school boards across the country face pressure to maintain effective governance.
Christy Barnes, adjunct instructor and program coordinator for the Center for Professional Education, recently published a review/reflection of the Amazon movie, "The Sound of Metal." Barnes' review, “Finding Henri Nouwen in The Sound of Metal,” was published in The Christian Courier.
In addition to participating in the “It’s About Time,” Writers’ Reading Series podcast at the Seattle Public Library, Jason Thornberry’s personal essay, "Press Eject," was accepted by the South Florida Poetry Journal for publication in November. Another Thornberry poem, "Abraded Wings," was recently nominated for a Best of the Net award.
10 things you should know about the School of Education
1. The School of Education offers programs for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in all fields of education. The programs place a strong emphasis on inclusive education, preparing students to work effectively with students from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
2. SPU offers seven routes to certification and endorsements in 28 areas. Our seven pathways allow students to select a route that will meet the needs of almost any life circumstance. Many of our students are teachers of record in their own classrooms, paraeducators, or career changers, but we also offer traditional preparation for people just starting a teacher education program.
3. Our graduate teacher education program was recently revised. The new curriculum (launching in 2024) is anchored by an antiracist and inclusive framework, redesigned to better support the increasingly diverse population of K-12 students in WA. Students will engage in small-group professional learning networks and attend program-wide events that will further develop their learning. Each quarter, specific themes will be broadly based on the concept of inclusion. In the fall, students will explore how to support exceptional learners. In the winter, the theme is supporting multilingual learners, and in the spring, we will explore how to use educational technology to support all learners.
4. Our curriculum and instruction program provides flexible options for teachers seeking to advance their career. Students can specialize in improving their instruction, enhancing their leadership skills, earning an English Language Learner endorsement, or pursuing a self-designed program to match their professional goals. Classes are online for busy professionals.
5. We offer two options for a doctorate: the Ph.D. and the Ed.D. The four different tracks — digital education leadership; education leadership; curriculum and instruction; and literacy — allow those pursuing a doctorate to tailor the program to suit their professional interests. There is a 30-credit path for those with an educational master's degree, making the doctorate more accessible.
6. We are serious about life-long learning. Our Center for Professional Education (CPE), offers a wide variety of courses, from a flight simulating course to instruction on ways to better help K-12 students. We also have courses to help teachers meet their certificate renewal requirements for STEM and digital education leadership. The CPE offers six add-on endorsement programs, for those interested in teaching a new discipline (e.g. health and fitness; reading; special education; library media; elementary education; English language learners, and bilingual education).
7. Three of the four state certification programs in the SOE are housed in the educational leadership program. We offer program administration, principal, and superintendent certification for educators. We welcome graduate students from anywhere in the state of Washington and from across the United States into our synchronous online and hybrid courses. Our programs are designed for both public school and private school educators who are seeking state certification in educational leadership. Additionally, all credits from any of the educational leadership programs can be transferred into the SOE doctoral program to cover up to 1/3 of the requirements for an Ed.D. or Ph.D.
8. The undergraduate teacher certification program distinguishes itself through several key features. It includes a year-long internship; a distinguished faculty with specialized knowledge in various domains; the advantage of small, tight-knit cohorts that foster community and personalized attention; and a steadfast commitment to promoting inclusive education. These elements collectively ensure that graduates are exceptionally well-prepared to effectively support and educate a wide range of diverse learners.
9. Within the undergraduate teacher certification program, students have the unique opportunity to engage in practical training across a broad spectrum of educational environments. This encompasses urban and rural schools, exposing students to diverse student populations, and fostering the development of versatile teaching skills.
10. We have faculty with expertise in a wide variety of areas, including special education, multilingual learners, and literacy. This ensures that students receive comprehensive training and are well-prepared to address the unique needs of diverse learners. Most of our faculty possess extensive classroom experience spanning from P-12, offering our students a rich repository of practical, real-world insights and knowledge. This wealth of hands-on experience equips our students with a unique advantage as they pursue their educational journey.
News & Events
Integrating AI into Digital Education Leadership program
We are thrilled to introduce an updated focus in Seattle Pacific’s MEd in Digital Education Leadership (DEL) and Digital Educator Certificate.
Our reimagined curriculum now places a strong emphasis on the ethical and critical integration and utility of AI in all courses, preparing students to make research-based decisions regarding the implementation and support of cutting-edge technologies in various learning environments.
Jim Dunnigan
EdTalks
On Oct. 12, 2023, the School of Education hosted an EdTalks series event, “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI on Education.”
Jim Dunnigan EdD '18 teamed up with Michael Paulus to explore the rapid rise of generative AI (ChatGPT and other large language models) and provided educators with examples of how AI will impact teaching and learning. They explored new educational technologies that incorporate AI features. And they engaged in reflective discussions to explore the possibilities, challenges, and ethical considerations of using AI in education.
Dunnigan has extensive classroom experience in K-12 schools as well as a decade of teaching in higher education. He is a member of the AI Learning Futures Collaborative at Arizona State University, researching the possibilities and implications of AI in education. He is also a proud alumni of the SPU doctoral program.
Michael Paulus is dean of the library and assistant provost for educational technology. He is also a regular School of Education adjunct professor who teaches courses in ethical and theological issues in education. He is the co-editor of the book AI, Faith, and The Future: An Interdisciplinary Approach.
WAESOL at SPU
The School of Education co-hosted the annual conference for the Washington chapter of TESOL (WAESOL) at SPU on Saturday, Oct. 21. Participants enjoyed sessions and workshops on the topic of supporting multilingual learners in P-12 and in higher education.
Game night for doctoral students
Kris Gritter hosted the first quarterly game night for doctoral students in the School of Education. This was a resounding success and a wonderful time to connect outside the classroom. This potluck-style gathering was a time of true fellowship.
Indonesian symposium on Coming Changes in Education
The 10th annual symposium on Coming Changes in Education will be held Dec. 6-9, 2023, at the Universitas Kristen Krida Wacana (UKRIDA) in Jakarta, as well as at the Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (UNTIRTA) in Serang, the capital city of Banten, Indonesia.
Organized by faculty from UKRIDA, UNTIRTA, and SPU, this symposium will provide an opportunity to discuss emerging ideas in global higher education and P-12 education.
Giving
Like you, we believe in our mission to engage the culture and change the world … starting in the classroom. That’s why SPU’s School of Education is always looking for new ways to help you connect with the future of education in our state and beyond. And there’s more than one way you can get involved. In fact, here are five ways to give.
On Point
Do you have news or know of any faculty, staff, or alumni who should be featured in the next issue? Please email On Point.